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Kernell Borneo
Fairmont State University Director of Athletics, Greg Bamberger, named Kernell Borneo as the new head women's soccer coach at Fairmont State on June 25, 2021.
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Borneo played collegiate soccer at both Missouri Baptist and West Virginia University and has since made the transition to serve in roles as a club and travel soccer coach and administrator for more than 18 years.
In his second season, Borneo led Fairmont State to the school’s first MEC Tournament Championship in 2022. Following a 10-3-3 conference record, Borneo’s team qualified for the MEC Tournament for the second consecutive season. After defeating Notre Dame (Ohio) 1-0, Fairmont State shutout nationally ranked West Virginia State in the semifinals before defeating the No. 15 ranked Frostburg State Bobcats in the conference championship game. The Falcons did not concede a goal in the three conference tournament matches. Borneo led the Falcons to their first NCAA Tournament berth after earning the qualifying bid by winning the MEC Tournament.
Borneo also led the Falcons to numerous school program records in 2022 including the most consecutive unbeaten streak (10 games) most consecutive shutouts (7 games), most shutouts in a single season (13 games) and most goals scored in conference play 33 goals.
In 2022 Borneo coached several players who received postseason recognition. Six players on Borneo’s squad landed on an All-MEC team. A trio of his players, Ari Christiansen, Taylor Kennedy and Kiera Kuzinski, earned All-MEC First Team honors. Mackenzie Gillispie and Alejandra Puerto were honored on the All-MEC Second Team and Emily Wallen received All-MEC Honorable Mention. Puerto was recognized on the All-MEC Freshman Team as well. Three Falcons, Kennedy, Puerto and Jessica Schneider, were selected to the MEC All-Tournament Team for their efforts during Fairmont State’s championship run.
Several of Borneo’s players received regional accolades following the 2022 campaign. Kuzinski was named to the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-Atlantic Region First Team, while Christiansen received second-team honors. Kuzinski, Kennedy and Puerto were placed on the United Soccer Coaches Association Division II Women’s All-Atlantic Region Second Team.
Under coach Borneo’s leadership, the Falcons have also excelled in the classroom. Six Fairmont State women's soccer student-athletes were named to the 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Team. Christiansen, Gillispie, Schneider, Elora Shinn, Gracie Smith and Ava Behr were recognized for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
In his first season as the head women's soccer coach, Borneo and Fairmont State concluded the season in the MEC Semifinals after earning the second seed from the MEC North Division. Four Falcons earned All-MEC accolades with Kuzinski and Christiansen being named to the All-MEC First Team and Kennedy being named to the second team. Emily Wallon was also recognized as she joined her teammates on the All-MEC Freshman Team. Kuzinski also achieved All-Atlantic Region Second Team honors after leading the Falcons in goals scored with 12.
We are thrilled to welcome Kernell to Fairmont State as the next leader for our women's soccer program," said Bamberger. "Kernell brings nearly two decades of experience developing and coaching soccer talent that went on to be successful at the collegiate level. He also brings a wealth of knowledge administratively, as the creator and director of several strong club programs.
"Kernell's background and experience provide unique opportunities for our program to continue to grow into a contender both regionally and nationally," Bamberger added.
Borneo has been the Director of Soccer at Pro Performance and FC Alliance North now BVB IA West Virginia in Morgantown since 2008 and has held the same role at Tri-State Elite since January 2015. During his time at Pro Performance, BVB and Tri-State Elite, Borneo has coached five different teams to win 14 State Championship titles. In addition, Borneo was voted the West Virginia Boys Competitive Coach of the Year in 2015.
In 2018, he coached his 2005 Girls team that advanced to the regional finals, before being eliminated by a top-10 nationally ranked team. Several of his teams also competed internationally in England, Germany, France and Spain.
From 2005 - 2007, Borneo served as head coach of the boys’ soccer team at University (W.Va.) High School, where he aided in the development of players that moved on to collegiate careers. Borneo has coached numerous boys and girls who went on to play collegiate soccer at WVU, Marshall, Kentucky, Bowling Green, Morehead State, Cincinnati, Wheeling, West Virginia Wesleyan, Concord and many other DI and DII programs.
Borneo has also coached and coordinated numerous camps throughout his career, including WVU men's and women's soccer camps, the West Ham National Camps in Morgantown, Pittsburgh and Georgia and the Bayern Munich ID Camps in Morgantown.
Prior to coaching and working in club soccer, Borneo received a scholarship to play collegiately at Missouri Baptist University and WVU as a defender. While at WVU, he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications in May 2003. Borneo has also earned credits toward a Master's in Education from WVU.
Coach Borneo has three Children. His son Elijah (22 years old) played collegiate soccer at the University of Kentucky and West Virginia University. His son Caleb (17 years old) currently plays for Columbus Crew Academy and is committed to play soccer at the University of Akron. Caleb was a member of the US national team player pool and played for the Trinidad and Tobago U15 team. His daughter, Ariana (15 years old), plays soccer for Morgantown High School and plays club soccer with BVB IA West Virginia and Indy Premier Academy.
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